Brake for bicycles



N`0 Model.)

J. W. JACOBS. BRAKE PoR BIGYOLES.

l/vg'ted Nov. 23, 1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT GEEICE.

y JAMES w. JACOBS, 0E JEFEEESONVILLE, INDIANA.

BRAKE Fo-R BICYCLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 594,018, dated November 23, 1897. Application fledOetober 10, 1896. Serial No. 608,429. (No mcdel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES W. JACOBS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jefferson-ville, in the4 county of Clark and State of Indiana, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Brakes for Bicycles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in brakes for bicycles, and con-l templates the arrangement of a brake in easy reach of one foot of the rider, whereby resistance may be offered to the revolving of the sprocket-wheel shaft, so as to regulate the speed of the machine by holding back upon the drive-chain.

Vith this end in view this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, and then specifically designatedby the claim.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, its construction and operation willnow be described in detail, referring to theaccompanying drawings, formin-g a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of a bicycle having my improvement applied thereto; Fig. 2, a horizontal section of vthe mechanism, showing its application to the sprocket-wheel shaft; Fig. 3, a section at the linesr of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 a section at the line y y of said ligure.

In carrying out my invention as here embodied I utilize the ordinary crank-shaft A of a bicycle, which is journaled in the usual manner in the hanger B and has secured thereon the sprocketwheel C, and this sprocket-wheel is connected in the usual manner by a chain to the small sprocket-wheel of the rear hub. Upon the opposite side of the hanger from the sprocket-wheel is secured a drum D upon the shaft A, so as to revolve in unison with said sprocket-wheel, and a corresponding drum E is secured to the face of the sprocket-wheel by means of the screws F or rivets, so as to become rigid therewith.

G are the pedal-levers, having formed therewith the hubs H, whichlatter are fitted upon the shaft A so as to freely revolve thereon, and these hubs are held in place by the nuts I. Each of the hubs project within one of the drums and have a series of pawls J pivi oted thereto within an annular groove, and said pawls are adapted to engage with the ratchet-teeth K, formed uponthe inner wall of the drum, so that when the hub is revolved in one direction the pawls willpass over the teeth of the ratchet without affecting the same, but when revolved in the opposite direction will engage with said teeth, thereby causing the drum to revolve with the hub, the pawls being actuated by gravity and here shown as five in number, so that two or more thereof will at all times be in engagement with the ratchet-teeth.

The hubs are revolved in the direction of the arrow by pressure brought to bear upon the pedal-levers, but when said pressure is released, or partly so, the hubs are revolved pedal-levers to their normal position by the action of the springs L,which are coiled about the hubs and secured at one end thereto at M, and having their opposite ends secured at N to the housings O, which surround the sprin gs. These housings are circular in form and have brackets P formed therewith, which are secured by suitable clamps Q to the rear braces of the bicycle, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. From this it will be seen that a rider has only to force the pedal-levers through the means of the pedals downward through an arc of more or less extent and by releasing or reducing the pressure upon the pedals permit the levers to be returned to their normal position by the springs in order to cause the bicycle to be given a forward progressive 1n ovement, since at each downward movement of the levers certain of the pawls J will engage with the ratchet-teeth K and cause the shaft Av to revolve therewith, and as the sprocket-wheel C is carried by this shaft and connected with the rear wheel of the bicycle by a drive-chain the operation of the two levers alternately will impart to the rear wheel a continuous tendency to revolve in one direction. The upward movement of the pedallevers is limited by the stop-lugs R, with which said levers come in contact, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. l v

By the use of this construction lin connection with a bicycle a rider willbe enabled to more perfectly control the machine as well as 7o in the opposite direction, thus returning the Y force it with greater rapidity and ease over rough road-beds and up steep inclines, and also be enabled to propel the machine at a greater rate of speed upon a level road, and this is due to the fact that the feet of the rider have only to move through an arc of a circle, and therefore a more direct application of power is had than would otherwise be the case, and also because no dead-centers exist and it is possible to maintain a constant and steady pressure upon the sprocket-wheel, since one pedal-lever may be contin ned in its downward movement until the other has been elevated and again started upon its Adownward movement, thus avoiding the interruption of the application of power to the driving of the machine, which is of the greatest importance when forcing said machine up a steep incline.

By the arrangement of this construction it is not possible to hold back upon the drivewheel of the machine by back-pedaling, and therefore it is essential that the forward movements of the machine be put under control of the rider by a suitable brake which will be in easy access of said rider and which will be absolutely sure of operation when needed, and this is accomplished in the following manner: A flexible band S is secured within one of the housings at T and passes around the drum, having its opposite end attached at U to the lever V, which is pivoted at XV to a lug X, formed upon the housing, and this lever terminates in a foot-rest Y, so that when it is .desirable to slacken the speed of the machine the revolving of the drum may be retarded by placing the foot upon the foot-rest Y, thereby creating a certain amount of friction between the band and drum, and this friction may be increased as desired by an increased pressure upon the brake-lever V. Thus the machine is put under complete control of the rider either for its forward propulsion or for f the stopping of its momentum.

This brake may be used in connection with bicycles which are not provided with the remainder of my improvement.

One of the advantages of my improvement is that it may be attached to a bicycle of ordinary construction without alteration of said machine, thus bringing it within the reach of persons owning such machines.

Suitable ball-bearings may be provided for the hubs H, in order that the friction therebetween and the shaft may be reduced to a minimum.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is In combination with a bicycle, a bracket secured to the frame, and running parallel therewith, a shaft journaled in the crankhanger and extending through the bracket, a drum rigidly secured on the shaft and fitting against the bracket, an annular ange formed on the bracket inclosin g the drum, a lever pivoted to ears on the liange one end extending through an openin gin the [lan ge, a flexible band running around the drum and secured at one end to the lever and at the other to the bracket, a flange formed around the inner edge of the drum to retain the flexible band thereon, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES W. JACOBS.

Witnesses:

S. S. WILLIAMSON, Trios. B. BADER. 

